Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To report on a one-year experience participating in a capitated healthcare plan for infertility.
DESIGN
Prospective study.
SETTING
University population.
PATIENT(S)
Reproductive-age women 15 to 50 years.
INTERVENTION(S)
The first-generation Lewin infertility algorithm and CATHI software were used to negotiate infertility services under a capitated arrangement for $0.50 per member per month. The following reports our experience for the fiscal year 1997.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Infertility services rendered, pregnancy rate, cost of services, collection rates.
RESULT(S)
Five thousand forty-six women representing 39,689 member months generated 39 new and 198 return visits. Thirty-two percent of the patients required three visits or less; six patients generated 22% of the visits. Fifty-one percent listed infertility as one of their chief complaints; 31% had mixed diagnoses. Eight (7.6%) patients required surgery, 11 (10.5%) patients underwent either IVF or GIFT cycles. Total charges submitted were $176,636; the amount assigned to specialty care was $135,277, and to IVF/GIFT, $33,433. Total capitated payments, including copayments, was $126,256 under the reproductive medicine agreement and $32,891 under the infertility rider. This resulted in a 71% gross collections rate.
CONCLUSION(S)
This study indicates that entering into a capitated health care plan to provide an infertility benefit can produce a successful result.
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